For the first time, a stage of the Tour of Britain started in Newmarket.

The beloved cycling race will run entirely in Suffolk but the sixth stage launched today at 10.45am in Newmarket's high street.

Also known as the Ovo Energy Tour of Britain, the multi-stage race started in 1945 in celebration of the end of The Second World War. It took place every year until 1999, before taking a five-year hiatus until 2004.

Crowd go wild for Mark Cavendish

Our reporter says big name Mark Cavendish got the biggest cheer of the day when he went up to the start.

11:25

Race will be managed by police escort

Police Scotland, Durham , Cleveland, Suffolk Essex Norfolk, Cumbria , West Yorkshire,wales ,Devon and Cornwall all make up the police motorbike escort for the race.

Ali Bonar of Durham police said: “We all came together for a training day in Edinburgh and are following the race until the end. It’s a long tiring week but great especially seeing the kids excited along the route, love it.”

11:22

Crowd dispersed

The crowd dispersed immediately because of the rain.

The rain didn’t dampen people’s spirits but they did all flee from the rain as soon as they were past.

10:53Anna Savva

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10:49Anna Savva

Crowds cheer as the race gets underway !

The race has now started.

If you missed it your can check out our Facebook page now to watch the race begin!

Everything you need to know about the tour

Our reporter has been talking to some members of the crowd

The race is about to start!

Here's some of the schedule for the day

At 9.45am the teams will be presented with flags and posters made by local schools

10.30am: Community ride out with the Newmarket cycling clubs

10.45 The Tour of Britain gets underway

09:11

Some seriously expensive bikes there

09:10

Lots of cyclists out in force

09:09

Here's the man to beat

Team Lotto NI - Jumbo's Lars Boom the general classification leader during stage five of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain from Clacton to Clacton

09:06

Who's top of the Tour of Britain leaderboard?

Holland’s Lars Boom moved to the top of the Tour of Britain general classification as he claimed victory in Thursday’s individual time trial stage in Essex’s Clacton-on-Sea.

Boom (Lotto NL-Jumbo), who won this race in 2011, went around the 16-kilometre fifth stage in 19 minutes and two seconds.

Team-mate Victor Campenaerts of Belgium came second, posting a time six seconds slower, and is eight behind Boom overall in second place.

The highest-placed Briton is Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas, who is ninth overall after coming eighth on Thursday.

Friday’s 187km sixth stage will run from Newmarket to Aldeburgh and there is then a 185km ride from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham before the race concludes on Sunday with a 180km stage that starts in Worcester and ends in Cardiff.

09:03

Here come the crowds

08:54

All ready for the crowds

08:53

Nice bike

A bike decorated in the Union Jack above Kodak in Newmarket for the Tour of Britain

08:49

Here's what the race start manager has to say

08:46

Will you be on the big screen later?

08:40

It's still pretty quiet at the moment

Lots of kids biking to school stopping to look, however

08:40

It's a soggy start

Tour of Britain

08:38

Tour of Britain due to start at 10.45am

There’s no crowds at the moment, although people are stopping to have a good look at the starting line and big screen in the town centre.

The Tour of Britain race is due to start this morning at 10.45am.

08:23

Grey day in Newmarket for start of race

It’s a pretty grey and damp start to the day in Newmarket where the Tour of Britain will start this morning.